Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 121 · B1

at/on/in (time)

At for times of day, on for days and dates, in for longer periods; at the moment, at weekends, at Christmas, at night; in the morning but on Friday morning; nothing before last, next, this or every; and in five minutes for time from now.

Start the lesson

22Steps · about 41 minutes

In this lesson

at, on and inA1 screen of questions
at the moment, at weekends, at Christmas, at nightB6 screens of questions
in the morning, on Friday morningC1 screen of questions
No preposition before last, next, this, everyD1 screen of questions
in five minutesE1 screen of questions
Put it together+5 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 5

at, on and in

at: time of day on: days and dates in: longer periods
at five o'clock, at 11.45, at midnight, at lunchtime, at sunset on Friday, on Fridays, on 16 May 2012, on New Year's Day, on my birthday in June, in 2012, in the 1990s, in the 20th century, in the past, in winter
  • They arrived at five o'clock.
  • They arrived on Friday.
  • They arrived in June.
  • They arrived in 2012.

Point A · Extra practice

Put in at, on or in.

  1. The film starts eight o'clock.

  2. My birthday is 3 May.

  3. We moved here 2015.

Point B of 5

at the moment, at weekends, at Christmas, at night

at also goes with at present, at the moment, at the minute, at this time (meaning now), at the same time, at weekends, at the weekend and at Easter / at Christmas (but on Christmas Day).

At night means nights in general; in the night means during one particular night.

  • Sorry, I can't chat now. I'm in a meeting at the moment.
  • Leo and I finished the race at the same time.
  • Will you be around at the weekend?
  • Does your family get together at Easter?
  • I don't like working at night.
  • I was woken by a fox screaming in the night.

Point B · Exercise 121.1 · part 1 of 6

Put in at, on or in.

  1. Example

    Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756.

    AnswerMozart was born in Salzburg in 1756.

  2. My sister's getting married 9 June.

  3. Leo's exams are June, but I'm not sure which week.

  4. This park is very popular and gets packed weekends.

  5. I haven't seen Kate for days. I last saw her Tuesday.

Point B · Exercise 121.1 · part 2 of 6

Put in at, on or in.

  1. Jonathan is sixty-three. He'll be retiring two years.

  2. Hang on. I'll be ready a minute.

  3. Nadia isn't at her desk the moment. Can I take a message?

  4. Fireworks go off all over the country Bonfire Night.

Point B · Exercise 121.1 · part 3 of 6

Put in at, on or in.

  1. Our street isn't well lit, so I don't walk home alone night.

  2. The wind was howling the night. Did it wake you?

  3. My car's in for a service. It'll be ready two hours.

  4. The bus station was heaving. Several coaches were leaving the same time.

Point B · Exercise 121.1 · part 4 of 6

Put in at, on or in.

  1. My parents always go somewhere special their anniversary.

  2. The puzzle looked hard, but I finished it ten minutes.

  3. noon the shadows are at their shortest.

  4. That castle is ancient. It dates back to the thirteenth century; it was built the 1200s.

Point B · Exercise 121.1 · part 5 of 6

Put in at, on or in.

  1. The surgery is closed Wednesday afternoons.

  2. Lots of students go home to their parents Easter.

  3. My flight lands five o'clock the morning.

  4. The course starts 7 January and finishes some time April.

Point B · Exercise 121.1 · part 6 of 6

Put in at, on or in.

  1. I'm at the dentist's Thursday morning, but I'm free the afternoon.

Point C of 5

in the morning, on Friday morning

We say in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, but on Friday morning, on Sunday afternoon, on Monday evening.

  • I'll see you in the morning.
  • I'll see you on Friday morning.
  • Do you work in the evenings?
  • Do you work on Saturday evenings?

Point C · Extra practice

Put in in or on.

  1. I'll ring you the morning.

  2. I'll ring you Friday morning.

  3. Is the café open Sunday afternoons?

Point D of 5

No preposition before last, next, this, every

Do not use at, on or in before last, next, this, every.

We often leave out on before days.

  • Let's meet next Tuesday. (not on next Tuesday)
  • They got married last June.
  • I'll see you on Friday. I'll see you Friday.
  • I don't work Monday mornings.

Point D · Extra practice

Write the time words in brackets. Use no preposition before last, next, this and every.

  1. Let's meet . (next Tuesday)

  2. They got married . (last June)

  3. I go swimming . (every Sunday)

Point E of 5

in five minutes

In + a length of time can mean that long from now. It can also say how long something takes.

  • The film starts in ten minutes.
  • Grandma's in hospital, but she'll be home in a few days.
  • They'll be here in a moment.
  • I learnt to drive in six weeks. (it took me six weeks)

Point E · Extra practice

Put in in.

  1. The film starts ten minutes.

  2. She'll be home a few days.

  3. I learnt to drive six weeks.

Put it together · Exercise 121.2 · part 1 of 3

Complete the sentences with at, on or in and one of these: the morning, about ten minutes, 1815, the same moment, the 1960s, the moment, 4 July 1776, night, Sundays, 9.58 seconds.

  1. Example

    The Battle of Waterloo took place in 1815.

    AnswerThe Battle of Waterloo took place in 1815.

  2. Owls usually hunt .

  3. I like to go for a run , before work.

  4. The American Declaration of Independence was signed .

  5. It was a dead heat. The two runners crossed the line .

Put it together · Exercise 121.2 · part 2 of 3

Complete the sentences with at, on or in and one of these: the morning, about ten minutes, 1815, the same moment, the 1960s, the moment, 4 July 1776, night, Sundays, 9.58 seconds.

  1. The Beatles became famous .

  2. Put the kettle on. I'll be home .

  3. Sorry, I can't talk . I'm driving.

  4. Usain Bolt once ran 100 metres .

Put it together · Exercise 121.2 · part 3 of 3

Complete the sentences with at, on or in and one of these: the morning, about ten minutes, 1815, the same moment, the 1960s, the moment, 4 July 1776, night, Sundays, 9.58 seconds.

  1. The museum charges during the week, but it's free .

Put it together · Exercise 121.3 · part 1 of 2

Which is right: a, b, or both?

  1. Example

    (a) I'll ring you on Saturday. (b) I'll ring you Saturday.

    both

    AnswerI'll ring you on Saturday. I'll ring you Saturday.

  2. Example

    (a) I'll ring you on next Saturday. (b) I'll ring you next Saturday.

    b

    AnswerI'll ring you next Saturday.

  3. (a) My cousin was born in March. (b) My cousin was born March.

  4. (a) I play squash on Sunday mornings. (b) I play squash Sunday mornings.

  5. (a) We both got flu at the same time. (b) We both got flu in the same time.

  6. (a) Are you going away at the weekend? (b) Are you going away on the weekend?

Put it together · Exercise 121.3 · part 2 of 2

Which is right: a, b, or both?

  1. (a) Our son was born at 3 August 2015. (b) Our son was born on 3 August 2015.

  2. (a) He left school last June. (b) He left school in last June.

  3. (a) Is the shop open on Monday? (b) Is the shop open Monday?

  4. (a) I hate cycling in night. (b) I hate cycling at night.

Lesson 121 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: on time and in time at the end and in the endBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. at, on and in–Not checkedB. at the moment, at weekends, at Christmas, at night–Not checkedC. in the morning, on Friday morning–Not checkedD. No preposition before last, next, this, every–Not checkedE. in five minutes–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked

Practise the words

PrepositionsEvery entry, with examples you can hearExercise setsPrepositions, beginner to advanced